The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-03-18


and the outlines beneath it, and her
hand clasped mine tightly; but she re-
covered herself and we advanced. and
then, resolving that she should not see
the body leave the stretcher, I procured
q flag and placed it near the after-sky-
| light, and said she could kneel there;
| which she did with her back turned
upon US.
I then whispered Cornish to watch
me and take note of the sign should
give him to tilt the stretcher, and to do
it quickly; after which placed myself
near the body and began to read the
service.
When came to that part of the Of
fee wherein it is directed that the
body shall be let fall into the sea, my
heart beat anxiously. for feared that
the girl would look around and see
what was done.
Igave the sign. and instantly Cor
nish obeyed, and thank God thst the
sullen splash of the corpse was lost in
the roar of a sea bursting under the
ships counter.
Now that it was gone. the worst was
over; and in short time brought the
service to an end. emitting many por-
tions which assuredly had not skipped
had not time been precious to us.
motioned to Cornish and the stew
ard to carry the stretcher away, and
waited for Miss Robertson to rise; but
she remained for some minutes on her
knees. and when she rose the deck was
clear.
She gave me her hand. and smiled
softly, though with heart-broken ex-
by way of thanking him for his sympa-
thy. and then conducted her below
aud left her at the door of the cabin.
saying:
Il have no words to tell you how
feel for you. Pray God that those who
are still living may be spared. and be
sure that in His own good time He will
comfort you"
CHAPTER XVII
All that morning the gale continued
fresh and the sea dangerous. We
found that the ship was regularly max
ing nine or ten inches of water an
hour; and after the funeral we turned
to and pumped her out again.
But this heavy work, coupled with
our extreme anxiety and the perils and
labor we had gone through was begin
ming to tell heavily upon US. The stew
ard showed signs of what strength he
had coming to an end, and Cornish's
face had worn and wasted look, as of
a man who has tasted long. The boat
swain supported this fatigue best, and
always went checrfully to work, and
had encouraging words for us all. As
for me, what l suffered most was.
strange to say, the eternal rolling of
the ship. At times it completely nau-
seated me. Also it gave me a racking
headache. and occasionally the motion
so bewildered me that was obliged to
sit down and hold my head in my
hands until the dizziness had passed.
At a quarter past eleven l had just
gone into the cuddy. after having had
an hours spell at the pumps with the
boatswain and the steward, when l
heard Cornish's voice shouting down
the companions: "A sail! a sail"
But minute before had felt so ut
tcrly Frustrated that should not have
believed myself capable of taking half
a dozen steps without long rest be-
tween each. Ye: those magical words
sent me rushing up the companion
ladder with as much speed and energy
as should have been capable of after
a long nights refreshing ssumber.
The moment Cornish saw me he |
pointed to the horizon on the weather
beam and clearly beheld the sails of
4 vessel. Both the boatSwain and the |
steward had come running aft when |
they heard CorniSh's exclamation.
got the telescope and pointed it at the |
vessel and found she was heading di-
rectly for us. l grasped Cornish by |
the hand and shook it heartily, and |
then holding the telescope to my eye,
exclaimed:
''She's a big ship. bosom. She's car
rying a maintop-gallant sail, and |
there's single reef in her foretop sail.
She can't miss us! She's coming right |
at us, hand over fist, boys! Steward.
go and tell Miss Robertson to come on |
deck. Down with you, and Delay that
squalling! Do you think we're blind?"
The small ensign was still alive.
roaring away just as We had hOisted
and left it; but in my excitement /
did not think the signal importunate
though surely it was so; and
to the flag-locker. l got out |
the book of signals. and sung out to
the boatswain to help me to bend on
the flags which threw out, and which
would represent that we were sinking.
We hauled the ensign down and run
up the string of flags, and glorious
fhnu cd IN
out in a semicircle, showing
their brilliant colors against the clear
blue sky.
Miss Robertson came on deck with
out any covering on her head, and the
wind blew her hair away from its
and floated it out like
cloud of gold. She held onto the rail
and stared at the coming ship with
wild eyes and frowning forehead.
The boatswain contemplated the an
preaching ship with an unmoved
Powerfully as the sight
Of the ship had affected the Others he
showed no excitement or feeling what
ever. had infinite confidence in this
mans judgment and bravery and his
weighed upon me like a
heavy preSentiment. and the cheering
words was about to address to Miss
Robertson died away upon my lips.
knew that the sea was then too
high to permit sending a boat for us,
but expected the ship would lie by
until the sea moderated which would
probably be by night or the next morn
ing at the latest
The ship must have been about sew
enteen miles distant when first sighted